Man slain by officer awaited trial

A man who was shot dead after he fired at a police officer in North Philadelphia was awaiting trial on drug and weapons charges, court records showed yesterday.

Julio Rivera, 20, of the 4400 block of North Oriana Street, died from gunshot wounds to the chest in the shooting Sunday, the Medical Examiner ruled yesterday.

Police said Rivera and his girlfriend had been arguing in a car on the 3100 block of North Fifth Street in the Fairhill section when she got out and flagged down a patrol car.

Rivera, armed with a semiautomatic pistol, got out of the passenger side of the car and fired once at the officer, police said. The officer, whose identity was not released, fired back twice, hitting the man.

Court records show that Rivera was awaiting trial for drug possession and distribution charges stemming from an arrest in May.

He also was facing trial on weapons charges from an arrest dating back to September 2006, the records indicate. A bench warrant was issued July 17 when he apparently failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance.

The records show that Rivera had been arrested in August on attempted murder and aggravated assault charges, but charges in that case were withdrawn. Prosecutors withdraw charges when they do not have sufficient evidence to take a case to trial.

The police officer has been placed on administrative duty while the Internal Affairs Unit and the District Attorney's Office investigate the shooting, as is standard.